By Gabriela Mancini
https://img.theculturetrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/boathouserow.jpg
I always hated when someone asked, “So, where are you from?” The question makes my brain suddenly go blank. Well the short answer to the question is easy: Philadelphia, but in reality it’s a bit more complicated than that.
I was born in Philadelphia, but raised in Medford New Jersey during the first few years of my childhood. I really don’t remember much of that house or neighborhood, other than my parents screaming about the deer always devouring their flower garden. I remember life always being in Philadelphia. An old Temple roomate of mine from deep into (who knows where) Pennsylvania was fascinated when I told her I grew up within the city. She would bombard me with questions like, “Do you know how to ride a bike?” “Did you ride the bus to school?” “Do you have a driver’s license?” Growing up in the city didn’t make my childhood any less out of the ordinary. I learned how to ride a bike in my local park. I walked or was driven to school. It took a long while, but yes, I did finally get my driver’s license at age 20.
I felt as if I never got a chance to really live in my house. I’ve lived in Society Hill, Old City, China Town, Poplar, Queens Village, and North Philly on and off campus of Temple University. My parents got divorced when I was around five years old. It became habitual and instinctual to just go with the flow and pack as much as I could carry. My parents are amazing people, but they had trouble providing household stability. Although I identified these places as my houses, not one of them I consider home. The definition of a “home” is different for everyone due to how they were brought up, but my question remains the same, “What makes a house a home?”
“Safety,” “security,” and “comfort,” is just the tip of the iceberg.
The word “home” does not always have to correlate with a physical building or structure. Instead, a home can be a place where you have your fondest memories. A place where you are pushed to become your best self from your most trusted mentors and peers. A place that gives you values, goals, and strength in non traditional ways. Whenever I think of the word “home,” I envision the Skykull River.
The Schuylkill River is one of Philadelphia’s most beloved landmarks. Its name translates to “hidden river,” which refers to the gems of real estate that lie on Boathouse Row. Founded in 1858, Undine Barge Club is one of nine rowing clubs that make up Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive. Undine is one of the only boat houses that has not been remodeled and still has its original interior. You can see and smell the history of the building when you walk inside, and I got to be a part of that legacy. It was on this river and out of this boathouse where I experienced my most accomplished wins, and the core ideology I live by today: Through chaos and uncertainty one will find the ability to achieve the success they believe is unattainable. I only got two small bronze medals during my rowing career, but to me they represent first place.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/97/e6/73/97e673f89a3f272469cfdba5d2a029f9.png
Riley McDade was my highschool rowing partner. We could not have been any more different, but anymore similar. For instance, she was well organized, I was not. She always had one bag, I had multiple. I set goals not to win, but to help her get into college through rowing. We were nicknamed the dynamic duo, because nothing could stand in our way. It was not until our final two races where we experienced the sensation of finding success through pure chaos and uncertainty. We faced ocean-like conditions causing our oars to snap under pressure, but passed the finish line of The City Championship in third place with three oars. During The SAA National Championship, our coach sent us off to our final race of the season late, but we still managed to become third in the Nation.
My rowing team gave me the skills I needed to put myself in positions of success, whereas the Schuykill gave me the most obscure challenges to navigate through. The consistent foundation of practice, support, and advice from my team taught me to silence the doubt in my head to decipher the right solution to a problem to continue to perform. I laughed, cried, froze, sweated, got ready for prom, and rowed out of Undine Barge Club’s Boathouse for four consecutive years. During this time I was surrounded by people I admired and aspired to be. The bond our team had resembled one of a family. Each team member was like a sibling I never had, and each coach was like a Godparent. The team was always there for you.
Life is like a river. You can’t control its flow or its conditions on the days you need to give it your all. You can’t rely on perfect weather when you need to perform your best. You can’t rely on others to carry your bag for you when it’s too heavy, or what to do if you forget your school shoes. The Schuylkill taught me how to achieve a goal by navigating through some of life’s challenges. Undine introduced me to the stability I craved, and a second family I didn’t realize I had. Once you overcome the mental block, focus on the goal, or the right people the success is yours. A house does not make a home, It’s all about the people within it.
Home helped me realize that.
